₦300m bribery claim causes rift among anti-tax protest organisers

Plans for a nationwide protest against Nigeria’s new Tax Reform Laws, scheduled for January 20, 2026, have been thrown into confusion following allegations that organisers received a ₦300 million bribe.

A splinter group on Friday announced it was pulling out of the demonstration, accusing key leaders of the movement of accepting the money and attempting to use the protest to trigger unrest across the country.

The faction also claimed the protest was being secretly backed by an opposition party and called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate.

In a statement, faction leader Mustapha Abdulahi urged security agencies to act quickly.

“The allegation of a ₦300 million bribe has divided members,” he said.

“We discovered that some leaders collected this money, so we are distancing ourselves and asking the EFCC to probe the matter.”

Abdulahi further alleged that the original civic cause had been hijacked for political purposes.

According to him, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was allegedly using the protest to exploit public frustration over the tax reforms, with the aim of creating disorder and possibly pushing for regime change.

“We have uncovered that the leadership is being influenced by the ADC to cause public chaos,” he added, calling for the arrest and prosecution of those behind the protest.

He explained that the group initially joined the movement out of concern for Nigerians facing economic hardship after the reforms took effect on January 1, 2026.

However, he said they withdrew after realising the protest had become “a money-making platform and political project.”

The faction described its withdrawal as an appeal for calm and responsible civic engagement.

“Our withdrawal is a call for unity, maturity and patriotism,” Abdulahi said, stressing that the country’s recovery requires collective sacrifice and peaceful dialogue.